Chapter nine of, Teaching Strategies for Ethnic Studies covers the ethnic group, Jewish Americans. In the United States at present time there are about 5.5 million Jewish Americans. They comprise about 2.2% of the U. S. population. They are a religious, cultural, and ethnic minority group that originated in Israel. They live in each of the fifty states, and are a very diverse group of people.

Jewish Americans have been a part of American history since the days of Columbus. They have contributed significantly in the areas of arts, science, medicine, education, law, and other fields. Some of their contributions have included works by Jewish novelists, playwrights, and critics who write from a Jewish perspective and on Jewish themes. They have played a major role in shaping many fundamental themes and concepts of our culture, such as religious freedom, the achievement of civic equality, and the struggle of a group to maintain it's ethnic identity while assimilating into the U. S. mainstream.

The history of the Jewish peoples spans 4,000 years of Western civilization. In 0 AD, Romans defeated the Jewish state in Pal

Today conditions for the Jewish American has improved. Yet, a large Jewish working class that lives in poverty still remains in many U. S. cities. Before the early 1970's few Jews occupied positions of power in American corporations. In 1973 Irving Shapiro, son of a Jewish immigrant, was appointed chairman and chief executive officer of E. I. du Pont de Nemours Company. This was the beginning of change for corporations.

Post-war prosperity, as well as the end of educational quotas and social barriers after World War II, created opportunities for Jews in America. Many entered the academic world. The percentage of Jewish students and teachers in graduate and professional schools is much higher than that of the rest of our population. There are now more Jews working in politics. Today, Jewish Americans are more secure in U. S. society and more involved in politics than ever before. However there is a disturbing rise in bigotry and anti-Semitism by organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party. An outbreak of anti-Semitism is being seen in the Black community as well.

In 1654 the Portuguese conquered the city of Recife. Once again the Jewish people were persecuted. The Portuguese gave them two choices, baptism or exile. Most chose exile. Twenty-three of them found their way to the colony of New Amsterdam. The Jewish people have been coming to America almost continuously since then. In New Amsterdam, the Jews faced oppression again. The Governor did not want them living there. He was forced to permit them to stay. However, he did confine them to live in homes in an area referred to as, "Jew's Alley." He did not allow them equality. He even refused to let them build a synagogue. Ten years later Parliament exempted Jews from saying the words, "Upon the true faith of a Christian" in the oath required to become a citizen in the English colonies.

In 1888 the United Hebrew Trades was formed in New York. It introduced Jewish immigrants to the trade union movement. Over the years such organizations improved working conditions in the industry. New ground was broken in the employer-employee relations. After World War I many Jewish workers left the garment industry. The history of the largely Jewish unions is an important chapter in the history of American labor.

Many Jews turned to peddling as a source of income. Some managed to accumulate enough capital to acquire a cart, then a ho

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